A question on the Greek in John 1.1

A friend of mine who is a Greek language student says that the most correct translation of the opening of the Gospel of John is: "In A beginning..." not "In THE beginning..." and the Greek is very clear about this and about the distinction.

Actually, he is mistaken...his is arguing from the absence of the definite article in Greek (sorta like our 'the'), but does not realize that the absence of it does NOT IMPLY the presence of the indefinite article (English:: 'a')...the Greek HAD an indefinite article that it could have used there, IF IT WERE trying to make the notion of 'a' beginning clear ("in ONE beginning")...

The work 'beginning' falls into a class of semi-proper class nouns, like 'flesh' or 'law' that is translated with a 'the' AS LONG AS the indefinite article/pronoun is not used...

The student-friend has perhaps not gotten to those lessons in his/her studies yet...

Plus, for what it's worth:

• "in the beginning" was a standard phrase in Greek thought of the day, especially philosophy...and meant the absolute beginning...
  

• the use of the imperfect 'was' with 'in the beginning' prompts some translators to translate it 'in the beginning of beginnings'! (see "John" in Expositors Bible Commentary)...